THE MURDER of Ronan Kerr, a young policeman, a beloved family member, a community activist and a sportsman, represents in stark terms the future that is offered by dissident republicans. The dignity and quiet determination of his mother, Nuala, as she warned against slipping back into “the dark days of fear and terror” was inspiring. She appealed to Catholic members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) not to be deterred by the murder of her son and to the wider community to show their commitment to equality of treatment based on mutual respect by coming forward with information.
The challenge thrown down by dissident republicans to democratic principles and basic human values is not confined to Northern Ireland. The technology used in the bomb that killed Constable Kerr may have been devised in this State. Security sources believe that Southern members are providing advanced engineering capacity, along with logistical support, for Northern units. Dissident groupings have attracted a membership of at least 600, on both sides of the Border. That reality requires everyone on this island to do their civic duty and to actively support the efforts being made to create a fair and just society.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has said the Garda Síochána will co-operate in every way possible with the PSNI in bringing those responsible to justice. Following years of consistent support for the peace process and a transformational referendum, the public expects no less. The cross-Border nature of these fragmentary groups makes security information-sharing and local surveillance absolutely necessary.
Northern politicians, churchmen, GAA officials and civil leaders have been unequivocal in their condemnation. But the harshest words came from Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness when he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with First Minister Peter Robinson, Minister for Justice David Ford and PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott. Those responsible, he said, were waging a useless war and were the enemies of Ireland and the peace. In the same vein, Gerry Adams denounced those responsible and urged nationalists to continue to support and to join the PSNI. Northern Ireland needed community policing along with a sense of public service that nationalists and republicans could support.
Last November, the Independent Monitoring Commission reported that dissident republicans remained highly active and posed a potentially lethal threat to members of the security forces. That assessment has been borne out by the murder of Ronan Kerr. The report also noted that co-operation between law enforcement and security forces on both sides of the Border had grown ever-closer, resulting in three times as many people being charged with terrorist offences as in the previous year. Intelligence gathering will eventually break down these militant groups. To speed up that process will, however, require those with information on both sides of the Border to put community before family tradition and commit to a shared and peaceful future.